Author Archives: vish2000

News in brief: 6 May 2007

Posted on 6 May 2007 | Leave a comment

Ravi Shastri is upbeat about the Bangladesh tour while admitting that the tour remains a challenge. Meanwhile in the opponent camp, Habibul Bashar, the Bangladesh captain has said that he is confident of beating India again.

Sachin Tendulkar has turned to Yoga in the hope that it will sort out his various injury problems.

According to reports, Rahul Dravid is recovering from his injury to the nose and will play the first game on May 10. Speaking of Dravid, former England batsman Geoff Boycott believes India captain Rahul Dravid needs to be more assertive for the team to rediscover success.

Sourav Ganguly gets tips from Sachin Tendulkar on how to negotiate short-pitched bowling

Sridharan Sharath, the Tamil Nadu batsman, has announced his retirement from first-class cricket. He remains the only Tamil Nadu player to have played 100 Ranji matches for Tamil Nadu a feat by itself

The never ending contract issue continues with the BCCI forming a two-member committee to discuss the issue with the players

‘After having taken one step forward, under John Wright and Chappell, Indian cricket has just taken two steps backward’ according a featured article in the ‘Times of India’.

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News in brief: 4 May 2007

Posted on 5 May 2007 | Leave a comment

John Buchanan has ruled out coaching India thereby giving a boost to Dav Whatmore’s chances if a foreign coach is indeed considered.

Sachin Tendulkar who had a injury scare earlier this week is back in training and the news is that he has started using his heavy bat again which he had stopped after the tennis elbow episode. While in Kolkata, unseasonal rains interrupt training schedules today, the team had a full session yesterday and the player who impressed the most was yougster Manoj Tiwary.

The BCCI have relaxed from their earlier stand and announced that the team members can sign the player contracts even after returning from the Bangladesh tour. Apparently, as per the clauses of the new contracts, players will get only 5 lakhs (USD 12,300) as flat retainer fees irrespective of their seniority, a far cry from the Rs 20-50 lakh (USD 49,000 – USD 123,000) they were earning till September, 2006. An unofficial complaint about incentive clauses in players’ endorsement contracts was what forced the BCCI to take tougher measures, according to Sharad Pawar. Meanwhile, there have been reports that the BCCI have not paid the team for the last seven months.

Hindustan Times’ Atul Sodhi explains why the Indian team needs Ravi Shastri as a coach?

Former Indian off-spinner Erapalli Prasanna feels that young leg-spinner Piyush Chawla should have been selected in both Test and ODI teams for Bangladesh.

Ricky Ponting believes his team will continue to dominate world cricket for years to come unless their opponents improve.

- Vish

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News in brief: 2 May 2007

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The five-day conditioning camp of the Indian team for the tour of Bangladesh has seemingly started on the wrong footing. Sachin Tendulkar bruised his ankle while batting at the nets today during the Indian team’s preparatory camp in Kolkata ahead of the Bangladesh tour. Although unlikely, we would’nt be surprised if Sachin Tendulkar is ‘rested’ again for the first test and a youngster takes his place.

Speaking of youngsters, Parvin Amre thinks that the talented duo of Manoj Tewary and Rohit Sharma have a very good future in Indian cricket.

Former India captain Kapil Dev wants Tendulkar and Ganguly amoung others to interact with the National Cricket Academy trainees.

The BCCI has no immediate plans to table a no-confidence motion against the International Cricket Council, contrary to reports appearing in the media. When will the BCCI appoint a full time media manager since most of us are tired of Niranan Shah’s shoot-from-the-hips comments?

After the World Cup disaster, the Pakistan team has found itself in a religious muddle. Check out this video report. and this interview with Pervez Mir, the manager of Pakistan’s World Cup cricket team.

- Vish

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News in brief: 30 April 2007

Posted on 1 May 2007 | Leave a comment

After match referee Jeff Crowe took the blame for the farcical finish to the World Cup final, Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive, was saying sorry for the bizarre ending. But the BCCI was having none of it and indicated that Speed might face an unprecedented no-confidence motion at the next meeting of the executive board in June.

Ramnaresh Sarwan has been named as captain of West Indies following the retirement of Brian Lara.

In spite of the ‘clarification’ by the BCCI chairman of selectors that Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar have indeed been rested, Kapil Dev strongly believes that they have been dropped for the Bangladesh tour

According to Viv Richards, Team Australia is the best thing to have happened to cricket

Shoaib takes a dig at retired captain Inzamam saying that the dressing room needs a captain who is supportive to the players

Bangladesh announce ODI squad against India. Meanwhile the, Indians will start a 5-day preparatory camp at Kolkata on 2 May 2007

In a further twist to the Bob Woolmer murder investigation, the BBC has revealed that he was poisoned before being strangled, rendering him powerless to fight back against his killer

- Vish

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News in brief: 29 April 2007

Posted on 29 April 2007 | Leave a comment

It is three in a row for Australia as Gilchrist destroys a spirited Sri Lankan side. Ponting has said that his team dominated the world cup like no other team has and added that he is excited by his side’s future prospects.

By contrast in the Sri Lankan camp, the mood was a little less upbeat but their fans were still defiant and drew solace from their team’s performance. According to reports a grand welcome awaits the Sri Lankan team.

Australia’s out-going coach John Buchanan said it was his nation’s destiny to be at the cutting edge of cricket after they’d won a third straight World Cup title.

Back in India, in an exclusive interview to CNN-IBN, BCCI chief Sharad Pawar has disclosed that some younger players told him that they felt advertisement companies were trying to influence selection. Not surprisingly, there seems to be much more to the sponsorship issue than what meets the eye. This disclosure is bound to cause a furore; and speculation will be rife about the ‘seniors’ who are already under the pump.

In South Africa, Bob Woolmer’s body finally reached Cape Town

In today’s Sachin Tendulkar related news, retiring Aussie great Glen McGrath rated Lara ahead of Tendulkar!.

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News in brief: 27 April 2007

Posted on 27 April 2007 | Leave a comment

It is touch and elegance versus brute power as Sri Lanka are set to take on the mighty Australians tomorrow at Barbados. Ricky Ponting has said that his team is more than ready for the Lankans even though they have some quality bowlers like Murali, Vaas and Malinga. His team mate and potential successor Michael Clarke continued in similar vain adding that the Aussies are in almost unbeatable form and Sri Lanka will have to play out of their skins to compete.

Cricinfo’s Rahul Bhattacharya pays tribute to Glenn McGrath and says that the great man is still on top as he prepares for a final fling.

Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan is on the verge of becoming the most successful bowler in cricket history but said World Cup victory over Australia on Saturday would top all his achievements.

Jayawardene does a Ganguly, keeps Ponting waiting! Much to the annoyance of Ricky Ponting, the Sri Lankan captain turned up an hour late for a scheduled beach photo shoot with the Australian skipper and the Cup to promote Saturday’s final, according to a media reports.

Gerald Majola, Cricket South Africa’s CEO, has criticised the team’s mental strength and inability to build on recent successes following their loss to Australia… and we thought mindless mud slinging was purely a sub-continent trait.

Steve Waugh who is currently visiting India has said that the Indians were dull and flat in the world cup.

Viv Richards who has been writing for the Hindustan Times recently has asked not to compare himself and Tendulkar

Steve Bucknor and Aleem Dar have been appointed to stand as the on-field umpires for the World Cup final

- Vish

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News in brief: 26 April 2007

Posted on 27 April 2007 | 3 Comments

It is a repeat of 1996 as Australia pulverise South Africa to meet Sri Lanka in the finals. The South Africans admitted that they were outclassed by the Aussies.

Osman Samiuddin examines the coaching question faced by most teams following their World Cup campaigns. Talking of coaches, Venkatesh Prasad, India’s bowling coach for the Bangladesh tour is excited about the prospect of his debut tour as a coach for the national side. Generally, we have observed that successful coaches including Whatmore, Buchannan and Moody had modest records as players. The corollary appears true too if you consider Chappell, Richards and Miandad. Based on this trend, we can expect a reasonable outcome from Prasad’s tenure for his record is neither ordinary nor extraordinary like his bowling skills.

According to PTI reports, Tom Moody is unlikely to be India’s coach

If reports are to be believed, Inzamam may be dropped from Test squad for Pakistan’s home series against South Africa. If it happens, nobody including Inzamam will be surprised or shocked.

‘Tendulkar playing for wrong reasons’ says Ian ‘calling-spade-a-spade’ Chappell without clearly specifying what those reasons are. By contrast, Viv Richards has come to Tendulkar’s supportearlier this week

- Vish

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News in brief: 25 April 2007

Posted on 26 April 2007 | Leave a comment

Its Murali and Mahela show at Sabina Park as Sri Lanka outplays NZ to reach the finals

The second semi-final starts today at St Lucia. Australia’s strategy apparently is to allow Jacques Kallis to spend more time in the middle so that the scoring rate can be contained! Sounds like one of those juvenile mind game comments we are accustomed to from Australia.

Stephen Fleming resigns as NZ ODI captain but would like to continue as skipper for the Test side.

PCB has advertised for a new coach for Pakistan. This is not going to be easy

What India needs to learn from Australia?…according to Javed Miandad.

Viv Richards feels that the Indian fans are ungreatful to Sachin Tendulkar! Excerpts from his interview to CNN-IBN makes interesting reading

Trevor Chesterfield’s two cents on whats wrong with the Indian team .

-Vish

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News in Brief: 24 April 2007

Posted on 25 April 2007 | 2 Comments

BCCI has announced a two-year term for the next coach and manager. Aparently a seven member “special committee” has been set up to advice on the coach-manager selection. The names doing the rounds for the coaching job includes Tom Moody, Dav Whatmore, John Buchanan, John Wright and Viv Richards. If Gavaskar has his way, the Aussies are out of contention. Hopefully common sense will prevail or is it asking too much of the BCCI?

According to Richard Hadlee the Sabina Park pitch may suit the Kiwis. What about Malinga? He may like to return the favour too.

Amay Khurasiya, who played 12 ODIs for India matches between 1999 and 2001, announced his retirement from first class cricket. He is keen on taking up coaching. Sure thing Amay. Coaching is certainly the flavour of the month.

The body of murdered Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer has been released by the coroner and will soon be returned to his family in South Africa.

Sachin Tendulkar turns 34. How long will he continue to play is anybody’s guess.

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News in brief: 23 April 2007

Posted on 24 April 2007 | 4 Comments

Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri and Srinivas Venkatraghavan are part of the committee set up by the BCCI to appoint the next coach. People are still taking Gavaskar seriously. Amazing!!

Another ‘amazing’ news from the BCCI is that they are going to persist with the zonal selection approach thereby guaranteeing that Indian cricket will not progress. Thank you BCCI for this forward looking approach!

New Zealand takes on Sri Lanka in Jamaica where the bounce may help New Zealand more while South Africa meets Australia in the semi finals where history seems to favours the Aussies

Jacques Kallis and Matthew Hayden have started a war of words ahead of the World Cup semifinals. Now why is’nt anyone surprised?

According to Jamican Police snake venom may have killed Woolmer

-Vish

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